Labour Brings in excellent Renter's Rights - long overdue.

twaddle

If I were renting, I'd want everything to be pristine at the start of the tenancy. Why wouldn't I? If I were buying, I'd rip out a tatty bathroom and kitchen and replace carpets. As a tenant I wouldn't be able to do that, but it's likely I would be paying a premium to the landlord to do what I wouldn't be able to do. It's what professional landlords do, if they want good tenants.

So you charge higher rents to cover those costs as well as destroying the planet with unnecessary consumption? I really don't see any justification and in my friends and family's experience this level of replacement is not their normal. Thank goodness for that. My friends and family are all good tenants, pay the rent on time and respect the property even though the carpets weren't brand new. I wonder how many posters here consider themselves a poorer grade of tenant because they live in rented accommodation that didn't have brand new everything throughout.

I doubt many young tenants trying to save for a deposit would rather have a new carpet as cheaper rent. I can't be sure, obviously, but I think many would prefer not to be paying to keep the LL's investment up to date.

In a different part of the market that may not be true, of course - one size doesn't fit all.

Doodledog

I doubt many young tenants trying to save for a deposit would rather have a new carpet as cheaper rent. I can't be sure, obviously, but I think many would prefer not to be paying to keep the LL's investment up to date.

In a different part of the market that may not be true, of course - one size doesn't fit all.

Please explain. I probably misunderstood.

Good reason for polished wood floors.

The issue with polished wood floors is that they're more difficult to maintain - and expensive to repair if they're damaged.

twaddle

The issue with polished wood floors is that they're more difficult to maintain - and expensive to repair if they're damaged.

Ours are quite easy to maintain, mopping is easy for tenants.

We sand and seal every few years, as needed.

We've not had damage - perhaps we will.

twaddle

The issue with polished wood floors is that they're more difficult to maintain - and expensive to repair if they're damaged.

In a lot of rental flats floorboards are not allowed due to noise.

I did look at what is available to rent locally - very little, there were quite a few 1 and 2 bed apartments for sale, they seemed cheap to buy but leasehold with service charges. There was a lot of retirement apartments, to buy or rent the service charges on those was sky high.

I dont see any future for private landlords renting but no doubt some company landlords will continue in the market. Im sure social housing will expand to fill the gap.

My son’s mate and his family moved into a rented property about 6 weeks ago. They viewed it when it was fully furnished and were happy with it.

Obviously, the day they moved in it was empty and they saw just how many defects there are. It had laminate flooring downstairs and heavy appliances had been dragged across the kitchen floor causing large gouges. The whole side of the kitchen where appliances had been the flooring has all broken and sticks up, likely due to a water leak. They took photos straight away of all the defects (14 in all) and reported to the letting agent who just keeps fobbing them off. They are paying over £1,000 a month.

Sorry, Norah I missed your post.

I was responding to the posts about changing carpets every few years. If I were renting when saving for a deposit I would rather have cheaper rent than a new carpet. I know all renters are not young savers, though. And yes, hard floors are a better idea.

Doodledog

Sorry, Norah I missed your post.

I was responding to the posts about changing carpets every few years. If I were renting when saving for a deposit I would rather have cheaper rent than a new carpet. I know all renters are not young savers, though. And yes, hard floors are a better idea.

Yes, hard floors are not ideal for all people.

Merely a preference, easy and clean for us and our tenants.

petra

twaddle

The issue with polished wood floors is that they're more difficult to maintain - and expensive to repair if they're damaged.

In a lot of rental flats floorboards are not allowed due to noise.

The 1st floor flat we bought (purpose built 1905 maisonette, one of just 2) had ceramic tiles, not all over the floor, but also up the stairs!! The noise for downstairs must have been utterly horrendous!

The place was in a dire state anyway, so obviously they all went when we renovated it to a standard we’d have been happy to live in ourselves.